Healthcare Administration Research Domains
Walden’s Healthcare Administration doctoral programs follow the professional domains and definitions established by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). ACHE Professional Competencies.
Students in Walden’s Healthcare Administration doctoral programs must select an HSO problem that relates to one or more of the ACHE professional domains that deal specifically with business skills. Below are the 8 core professional knowledge areas and definitions that students will use to make sure their organizational research problem aligns with an ACHE healthcare professional domain.
1. General management is the use of analytic, problem-solving, and systems thinking skills to facilitate, support, and implement decision-making within an organization.
2. Financial management is the use of financial analysis, reimbursement techniques and strategies, financial outcome measures, and financial planning to achieve organizational objectives.
3. Human resource management is the use of effective workforce planning, performance management, labor relations, and federal regulation compliance regarding employees of an organization.
4. Organizational dynamics and governance are the use of governance structures and organizational leadership to foster trust and effectively support operational systems in order to achieve organizational goals.
5. Strategic planning and marketing are setting organizational direction and strategies based on an understanding of the market and market forces and communicating an organization’s capabilities and strengths to consumers.
6. Information management is the use of hard and soft technologies to promote managerial and clinical efficiency for improved healthcare delivery while planning for future organizational needs.
7. Risk management is the use of liability, compliance, and related information to implement strategies to mitigate risk, avoid malpractice, and plan for disasters.
8. Quality improvement is the application of techniques that continually improve the quality of care provided, patient safety, organizational performance, and the financial health of the organization.